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Russia: Government Confirms Gay Athletes Not Safe From Anti Gay Law

Written by scott on August 12th, 2013

Russia confirmed today that gay olympic athletes could be subject to arrest next year for the Sochi Games. Boy Butter reports:

Speaking with Ria Novosti, Alexander Zhukov, head of Russia’s National Olympic Committee, added that “People of nontraditional sexual orientations can take part in the competitions and all other events at the Games unhindered, without any fear for their safety whatsoever” as long as they don’t “put across” their views “in the presence of children.” Well, that settles it. Attendees and athletes of the Sochi Olympics can be as gay as they want to, just no where near the vicinity of a child. And of course they’re nowhere to be found. Ever.

Gay rights supporters have painted the zebra crossing outside the Russian embassy in Stockholm in the colours of the rainbow following angry exchanges during last week’s Pride festival over the country’s treatment of LGBT individuals. Stockholm police have been in regular contact with the Russian headquarters since the earlier manifestations but were unaware of the latest incident.

Somewhere over the chalk-drawn rainbow, way up high, there’s a sense of gay pride doodling its way across Australia and the world. DIY Rainbow, an Australian protest movement, have chalked up another achievement by drawing a rainbow flag outside Sydney’s Russian embassy. In the quiet suburb of Woollahra, gay rights activists spoke out by creating the new road-art feature outside the building in protest of Putin’s anti-gay laws.

I love this protest – we should do this EVERYWHERE there’s a Russian Embassy.